Thanks to your help, we rocked the Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing last Tuesday! 150 people turned out to show support.  That’s amazing turnout for a rainy workday afternoon in a location far from our community. The hearing room was completely full, and the foyer outside was packed – there were even people waiting in the hallway outside the foyer.

About 50 people testified; only two of these people spoke in favor of the project (and one of the two was a near-by property owner).  Assemblymember Deborah Glick testified in person speaking on behalf of herself and State Senator Brad Hoylman.   Borough President Gale Brewer and Councilmember Corey Johnson sent members of their staff to testify.  Both Save Gansevoort and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation had multiple speakers, and the New York Landmarks Conservancy, Landmark West!, and  Historic Districts Council presented statements opposing the project.

Together, we all made a powerful argument that the Gansevoort block is defined by it’s market history and character, and that, quite simply, the proposed development would obliterate that character and history.

The testimony lasted until 7:00PM!  Given how late it was, the LPC Commissioners decided to adjourn  the hearing and postpone their own discussion and questions to the applicant until a future meeting. 

Since none of the Commissioners had the opportunity say a single word about the proposal, for now we have little idea what they currently think about this project. 

WE WILL NEED PEOPLE TO ATTEND THIS FUTURE MEETING TO REMIND THEM HOW STRONGLY THE COMMUNITY OPPOSES THIS MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT! The public will be able to observe this meeting but will not be able to speak.

We’ll post the date and time of this meeting as soon as it’s available. Let’s keep the pressure on!

The crowd waiting to get into the hearing room:

Inside the hearing room:

In the background, a small part of the overflow crowd which filled the foyer and hallway:

The Commissioners listen to the presentation by the developer’s architect. There’s a lot of paper on that table!

Seated in the aisle:

Exhausted after a hard day of testimony!